India cannot ‘set aside’ international obligations when inconvenient, says Dar on New Delhi’s unilateral move against IWT

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged India cannot disregard its international obligations when they become inconvenient, emphasizing that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) status was reaffirmed by a court of arbitration. In April 2024, India suspended the accord, leading to a brief military conflict. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) declared the treaty fully in force in August, rejecting India's justification for termination or suspension.

At an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group meeting, Dar stressed that the treaty is a binding international agreement, with no provision for unilateral suspension. He expressed appreciation for OIC support for the Kashmiri people, who have long awaited a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices to determine their future.

India has implemented numerous unilateral measures since August 2019 to alter the demographic, critical, and cultural character of India-occupied Kashmir (IoK), according to Dar. These include arbitrary detentions, torture, and persecution of political and civic leaders, activists, journalists, and youth, as well as the outlawing of political organizations and the criminalization of legitimate dissent.

Additionally, India has sought to change the identity of the occupied territory through measures such as illegal domicile laws, manipulation of electoral constituencies, addition of non-Kashmiris to electoral rolls, confiscation and demolition of properties, and undermining the cultural and religious heritage of Kashmiri Muslims.

Furthermore, Dar highlighted how India has attempted to prevent the world from witnessing these violations by curtailing media freedom, subjecting journalists to intimidation, surveillance, and detention, closing the Kashmir Press Club, blocking social media accounts, and denying international media and independent observers access.